Improvement in alphabet-blocks



A. G. TRIGKEY. Alphabet-Block. Patented Oct. 22,1878.

W/T/VESSES:

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N.PETERS. PHOTOLITHOGRAFMER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABBIE G. TRICKEY, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

lM PROVEM ENT IN ALPHABET-BLOCKS Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,307, dated October 22, 1878; application filed August 19, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABBIE G. TRICKEY, of Manchester, in the county of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Toy Blocks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification:

This invention relates to instructive toys for children; and consists, first, in a peculiar toy block constructed in the form of a fiat circular disk, having acentral aperture, and adapted to be cheaply manufactured, and to be used for teaching letters or numerals with superior efficiency, and also as a toy in a variety of novel ways, and with less liability to accidents; and, secondly, in a set of such blocks united by a chain or its equivalent passing through the apertures of the several blocks, as hereinafter more fully described.

Figure l of the accompanying drawing is a perspective view of a toy block illustrating this invention. Fig.2 is a face view of the same, showing its reverse. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a set of such blocks. Fig. 4 is a face view of a block illustrating a modification.

In carrying out this invention I cause to be manufactured a sufiicient number of wooden blocks, B, in the form of fiat circular disks, each having a central circular aperture, a. They can be turned in an automatic machine, like spools, or cut in a lathe, or otherwise, from flat stufi, which may be laminated with crossed grain for additional strength. Equivalent blocks may also be molded or formed in dies from artificial-wood compositions, papiermach, or any approved material. Wood or a similar light substance is preferred.

On the flat sides of the blocks thus formed I cause to be displayed letters and numerals, with or without pictures and other ornamentation, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. These have been painted on, but may be printed or stenciled, or they may be, upon paper or the like, securely cemented to the blocks. The characters may also be molded in or upon said surfaces by means of dies; and one or more letters or figures may be arranged on either or both sides of each block in any preferred manner. Two letters have been arranged on the obverse of each block, with two figures, &c., on the reverse, and with this arrangement the alphabet is accommodated on thirteen blocks. A hard transparent varnish finishes the blocks and renders them sufficiently water-proof.

A set of thirteen blocks, B, united by a chain, 0, passing through the apertures of the blocks, is illustrated in Fig. 3, an edge view of each block being shown. A cord may be substituted for the chain, and a snap-hook or its equivalent may fasten the same, so that it can be readily unfastened at pleasure.

The flat annular form of the blocks provides for the display of two or more letters or figures on the same surface, together with pictures, 8tc., so as to avail the learner of comparison and association, while it provides the entertainment of stringing and unstringing the blocks, and adapts them to be used as quoits, &c.

The circular shape facilitates manufacture, renders the blocks perfectly safe to play with by obviating the presence of sharp angles, and adapts the blocks to be used as rolling toys, which are always preferred by children.

United by means of the chain 0 or its equivalent, the blocks can be turned like the leaves of a book, the order of the letters, .&c., is preserved, and the blocks, free from liability to become scattered, can be readily carried about or suspended from a nail, n, or the like, when not in use.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 4 consists simply in providing one or both surfaces of each block B or of any given number of blocks in a set, with a word and an illustrative picture in lieu of detached letters or figures.

The following is what I claim as new and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, namely:

1. A toy block constructed in the form of a fiat circular disk, with a central aperture, and provided on one or both flat surfaces with letters or other characters for teaching purposes, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, aset of toy blocks constructed in the form of flat circular disks, having central apertures, with letters or other characters on the fiat surfaces of the respective blocks, the same being united by means of a chain or cord, substantially as 7 herein specified.

A. G. TRIGKEY.

Witnesses:

HENRY H. HARTWELL, B. W. GRIFFIN. 

